Can opener



Nov. 30 1926.

J. ROGGINGER CAN OPENER Filed Sept. l0 1925 Ecl.

(j www n T015 y Jar/Y Roos/NGE@ part ofthis application, in which:

Patented Nov.' l3o, `192e.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFI-lcEv JOHN ROGGINGEB, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO NORCO MEG. CO., OF

` NOBCO, CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATIONOF CALIFORNIA.

CAN OPENER.

Application led September 10, 1925. 'Serial No. 55,489.

- My invention relates to canopenersand the objects of my -invention are: First, to provide a can opener for cutting the head ends out of oruthe whole -ends from metal- 5 lic hermetically sealed cans, of either cylindrical `or rectangularconstruction; second, to provide a can o nervof this class in which the cutter is, eld in operative relation to the cutter positioning wheel by the supporting handle of the opener, and in f which the cutter is automatically removed from its operative position relatively' to the cutter positioning wheel,i when the supits normal supporting position; third, to provide a can opener of this cla s in which the cutter and its driving gear are adapted to be shifted away from and towards the cutter positioning wheel with thev axes of 0 the former substantially parallel with the 1 axis of the "latterg' fourth," to provide a can opener of this class in which the cutter is immediately removed l from operative relay tion with the cutter positioning wheel by a u compression spring means ywhen the support-ing handle of the opener is shifted anguarly with its normal .supporting position; fifth, to provide as a whole aV novelly. con.- structed can opener forcutting out the heads and wholly removing the head ends of hermetically sealedl metallic cans; and, sixth, to provide an opener of this class which is simple andeconomicalof constr uction, durable, eiiicient and which will not readily deteriorate or get outof order.

' With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinaftermyinvention consists of Acertain novel features of construction, combination and arran lment of parts 40 and portions, as will be ereinafter described in detail, and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings 'and the characters of reference thereon; which form a Figure 1 is a side elevationalview of my can opener,l showing the same in a cutting position o n acan, with the can shown fragmentarily and in section, and showing by dotted lines thecutting member, the cutting member driving gear. and thesupporting handle fragmentarily in certain shifted positions; Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof taken -throu h 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarge sectional view thereof taken through 8--3 of Figure l, and Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of my can opener, in a slightly different position relativel to a can adapted to be opened, showing the opener removing the head only of the can, inside of the normally upward extending ledge thereof. 1

Like characters 0L reference refer to similar parts and `portions throughout the sevporting handle for the opener is shifted from eral views of the drawings. Y

My can opener consists essentially of a frame 1, spindle 2, handle 3, cutter positioning wheel 4, gear 5, plates 6spindle 7, cutter 8, nuts 9, gear 10, spring 11, supporting handle 12, screw 13, and the collar 14.

The frame 1 is made of a piece of iiat metal stock folded over itself, forming a journal l at its folded portion and another journal portion 1b intermediate its ends, the latterl journal portion.being'semi-circular on one side only and open towards the one end of the frame, as shown best in Figure 2. In the journal 1* isrevolubly mounted the one reduced end of the spindle 2, which spindle is provided vat the end extending throu h the journal with a cutter positioning w eel or disc 4, made of.metal, hardened and knurled longitudinally at itsface, as shown. On i said spindle intermediate its ends and at the opposite end of said journal, isv also secured aspur gear 5, which 1s provided at 'its opposite sides with tooth' guide plates- 6. The extended endof theI spindle 2 is provided with preferably a fiat handle 3 for readily rotatmg said spindle and a'knurled disc 4.

Through the 'journal portion 1b of the frame 1 extends a short spindle 7, havingits axis .parallel with lthe axis of spindle 2. 'At the one end of the spindle 7 is secired a circular or dise cutter 8, by means of a nut 9, onl theV threaded end o'f the spindle 7 Intermediate the cutter .8, and the1 one endofthe frame 1, is provisioned a collar 14, which is adapted to retain the 4cutter 8 ina certain positionrelati'vely toi the outer side of the knurled 4, and to r -Icounterclockwisa 'causiiig} f the can ,to be roprevent the cutter 8 from riding on the nurled portion of the disc 4. 0n the opposite end of the spindle 7 is secured a spur gear 10, by means of another nut 9. Said last mentioned gear 10 is adapted when shifted towards the gear 5 to mesh with the latter, and to be driven by the same. The sides of the gear l0 are bevelled slightly at the periphery of the gear so as to permit the teeth of the gears to mesh readily with each other.

Intermediate the normally upper and lower ends of the frame 1 is a hole 1 which communicates with the semi-circular ory cylindrical portion of 4the journal portion 1b as shown best in Figures 2 and 3. In this hole is positioned a compression spring 7, which extends into the journal portion 1b and is adapted to engage the spindle 7 for normally forcing the same outwardly when not using the can opener.

Between the open ends of the frame 1. in which the spindle 7 is mounted, is lpivotally mounted, byv means of the shoulder screw 13, the supporting handle l2. When the handle l2 is in its normal supportinr position for the can opener, the inner en as shown in Figure 4.

thereof is adapted to engage the normally outer side of the spindle 7 and provide the outer side of the journal therefor, the spring 11 holding the spindle 1 in 'engagement with the h andle 12 ,and preventing ithe .latter to be readily folded to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. y

The inner endof the handle 12 is preferably made to conform substantially with the contour of the spindle 7, so as to provide a good bearing therefor. It will be here noted that the inner end of the handle 12 extends preferably above and below the horizontal line passing through the axis of the screw 13, so as to hold the handle 12 in a substantially rigid manner, in the supporting position shown by solid lines.

It will be noted that the cutter 8 is 'beveled at its opposite sides, so as to provide easy cutting of the metal, particularly when desiring to remove only the head of the can A cutter beveled only at its outer side will side walls of the can,

When desiring to apply thecan opener` to a. can in either of the positionsshown in the drawing, the handle 12 is shifted to the dotted line position,.as shown in Figure 1, which provides-ample space between the cutgouge into the ter 8 and the disc 4 for the reception vof the i the cutter 8 to puncture the wallaofi' the can, .either at the head or atthe side. The handle-12. is then held-'with one hand and the'lrdle 3 rotated her clockwise or tated, y means of the knurled disc 4, against the rotating cutter 8.

Though I have-shown and described a particularv construction, combination and arrangementof parts and portions, I .do not wish to be limited to this particular bonstruction, combination or arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and ar' rangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

-Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to'secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. In a can opener, a frame made of flat sheet stock, folded over upon itself, forming two journal Yportions in its folds, the one of said journal portions being open at one side, a spindle revolubly mounted in said last mentioned journal portion, a cutter secured to said spindle, another spindle revolubly mounted in said other journal portion and providedat its one end with a means for engaging and rotating a can, its periphery being positioned contiguous -to thecutting edge o f said cutter, and means for rotating said other spindle. f

2. Inga can opener, a frame made of flat sheet stock, folded over upon itself, forming two journal portions in its folds, the one of said Vjournal portions being open at one side,

a spindle revolubly mounted in saidl last mentioned journal portion, a cutter secured tiguous to the can rotating means secured to Said other spindle, and forv releasing Said cutter,

3. In a can opener, aframe made of fiat sheet stock, folded over itself, formin two journal portions in its folds, the one o said journal portions being open lat one side, a spindle revolubly mounted in said last mentioned journal portion, a cutter secured to Asaid spindle, l another spindle revolubly mounted in said other journal portion and provided, at its one end with a means for engaging and rotating acan, its periphery being positioned contiguous to the cutting edgeof said cutter, means for rotating said other spindle, a. handle pivotally mounted between the folds of said frame at they por- 'tion of said journal portion o en at one end, said handle, being adapte to engae at its'inner end'said first mentioned spin e 1,eos,soe

for holding the cutter mounted thereon contignons to the een rotating means secured to said other spindle and for releasing said cutter, and a compiession spring positioned n 7netti/een the folds of seid frame and extending outwodly into the jonrnai portion open et one side and in engagement with the itst mentioned spindle, for forcing the seme ontc Wal-diy when said handle is shiftedto n nonsupporting position.

n testimony whereof, I ilove hereunto set my hand at San Diego, Ceiit'ornia, this 28th day of August 1925..

JOHN MOGHNGEE., 

